Manzanita brings flowers, evergreen foliage, and twisty.
colorful bark to dry landscapesand it asks little in return.
Manzanita(Arctostaphylosspp.)
Credit:Jennifer Gauld / Getty Images
Manzanitas vary greatly in shape and formfromlow-growing groundcoversto towering 20-foot-tall plants.
So, if the climate is right, there is likely a great cultivar for your landscape.
Instead of fussing over your plant, place it thoughtfully and resist the urge to meddle.
Credit:Jennifer Gauld / Getty Images
If properly chosen and placed, manzanitas offer year-round interest in exchange for little more than room to grow.
While placement needs vary by variety, well-drained soil is a must for all manzanitas.
They will not tolerate soggy soil orstanding water.
Common Bearberry.Credit: Photo © Sten Porse
For that reason, do not place manzanitas near plants that require regular wateringespeciallythirsty summer perennials.
The slope of a berm will improve drainage and help prevent root rot.
Manzanitas make excellentxeriscape plantsand are great for erosion control onhillsides and slopes.
Credit: Image byStan Shebsvia Creative Commons
They also draw in pollinatorslike butterflies, hummingbirds, and beesas well as birds and other wildlife.
As garden accents, manzanitas range from mat-forming groundcovers to mounding shrubs, and small, upright trees.
So, consider the space requirements for your particular variety when planting.
If possible, do notamend your soil.
Manzanitas thrive in poor, infertile soils.
Manzanita Care Tips
Don’t be tempted to coddle your manzanitas.
The shrubsfrom low-growing groundcovers to upright treesare diverse in their preferred habitats, but almost universally thrive on neglect.
Light
Manzanitas preferfull sun, or in inland sunny locations, partial shade.
Most varieties benefit from protection from the afternoon sun in bouts of extreme heat.
Soil and Water
Manzanitas can thrive in a variety of soilsincluding clay.
However, most prefer well-drained,acidic soil(4.0 to 7.0 pH) with no amendments.
Preferences will differ among species, but weekly or bi-weekly watering is likely sufficient.
This helps the plant build an extensive root system.
Once established, manzanitas need no summer water beyond what falls from the sky.
Moisture in combination with heat makes manzanitas vulnerable to fungal organisms.
Credit: Ed Gohlich
They enjoy moist, mild winters with temperatures above 15 .
Manzanitas do not like high humidity or soggy conditions.
Fertilizer
Manzanitas are adapted to poor, infertile soil and do not require supplemental fertilizer.
Current growth sections that contain leaves can resprout.
If your manzanita develops aburla swollen dome of dormant budsradically prune the shrub back to the burl.
This is a regenerative pruning.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Pests and Problems
Aphidscan be an issue for manzanita in some areas, especially on new growth.
How to Propagate Manzanita
The easiest way to propagate manzanita is from cuttings.
To do so, look for newly sprouted terminal shoots from a woody stem that grew the previous year.
This is best done in early spring as terminal shoots are just beginning to emerge.
Place the dipped end in a moist 1:1 mixture of sand and peat.
Manzanita can also be propagated from seed, but the process is tricky.
This action mimics the wildfires that are a common occurrence in the shrubs native habitat.
After the seeds have been scarred and fire-germinated, they can be planted outside.
The flowers give way to white berries that are loved by birds and other wildlife.
Common manzanita grows best in full sun or partial shade and a wide variety of soils.
Bearberry
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a low-growing manzanita shrub often used as a garden border.
It can also be grown as a dense groundcover that blocks weeds.
It fares well in sandy, poor, infertile, and acidic soils.
It features dense mounds or patchy mats of glossy green leaves and occasional light pink flowers in winter.
It enjoys full sun and is drought-tolerant but fares well in coastal climates.
It is one of the most moisture-tolerant manzanitas and grows easily in most garden soilsbut don’t overwater it.
It grows 2 feet tall and wide in zones 7-10.
‘Monterey Carpet’ Manzanita
Arctostaphylos hookeri’Monterey Carpet' makes a great plant for coastal sites.
This cultivar grows 1 foot tall and about 4 feet wide in zones 8-10.
It demands well-drained soil and little to no watering.
Shagbark Manzanita
Arctostaphylos rudisgrows about 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide and tolerates pruning well.
It has light pink flowers.
Grow shagbark manzanita as a low hedge or tall groundcover in coastal areas.
It features deep red bark, grey-green leaves, pinkish-white spring flowers, and large reddish-brown berries.
Eastwood manzanita prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0.
There are, however, upright forms of hookers manzanita that can grow 6 feet tall.
In early spring, it offers bell-shape, white-pink flowers that precede glossy red berries.
Its an excellent choice for edge plantings and rock gardens.
It typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide in zones 7-10.
If you might find it, it makes a stunning addition to coastal gardens.
Their tough roots that make them excellent candidates for areas in need of erosion control.
Most California lilacs prefer full sun to partial shade and are hardy in zones 7-10.
Nearly all euphorbia speciesare succulentsand they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Some even boast cacti-like leaves and colorful striations of red, white, orange, green, and yellow.
Euphorbias are hardy in zones 5-10 and, like manzanitas, thrive on a little neglect.
It is a popular choice for slopes,rock gardens, and the cracks of retaining walls.
The wide, evergreen shrub is hardy in zones 9-10.
Inland, it grows up to 10 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide.
Near the coast, it may remain under 3 feet tall.
Lemonade berry shrubs feature lumps of pinkish-white flowers that develop into reddish-pink fruits.
Matilija Poppy
Matilija poppyis a pretty perennial native to the American southwest.
From early spring to midsummer, it bears fried egg-like flowers comprised of tissue-thin petals.
Matilija poppy is hardy in zones 7-10 and, like manzanita, is extremely drought-tolerant.
It prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 5.0 and 8.0.
The burl contains dormant buds that can resprout after a fire.
The rainless summer season allows manzanitas to grow strong, extensive root systems.
Avoid watering during hot summer months to keep the roots of your manzanita strong and prevent fungal infections.
However, some species have been known to live for hundreds of years.
